Conveyer chain



Aug- 13, 19h35. w. A. DlcKlNsoN v 2,911,514

CONVEYER CHAIN Filed May 4, 1934 Patented Aug. 13, 1935 ,c q '12,011,5142-l UNIT ED STATES PAT ENT' OFFICE 'l f f 2,011,514 i' l CONVEYER CHAIN n Warren Dickinson,V Philadelphia,y Pa., ,assignerto'Proctor & Schwartz, Incorporated',I Philadelphia, Pa., a, corporation of Pennsylvania.

Application May 4, 1934, serial-Np.- 723,999-` 13 claims: (011198-189) invention'relates to' polefcarrying chains' pended from poles for transportation through theV apparatus, `wherein thefpoles are disposed in lat` erally spaced substantially parallel relationV to eachother transverselyrof theconveyer with the 10dVA opposite ends of the poles respectivelyrestingon` apairjoi laterally spaced carryingjchains constituting the conveyer` y Dierent kinds of materialundergoing different processings or special handlings require different 15spacings of the poles on the carrying chains. Prior to the present invention, ithas been necessary to provide completely different chains for each of the different pole spacings required, each link of each chainbeing provided with one or more 2()L provision of chains of differentpitches.V This 1in turn requires the provision of differentlyv pitched chains.

adaptedr to receive interchangeable series ,fofdif- 30,1 of the pole sockets-in each series of Y attachments isidiiierent from those of the other series', thereby obviating lthe necessity for providing .completely diierent chains underthe circumstances noted. More specically the invention concerns the 35", provision of a xed pitch chain wherein each link thereof is provided With a relatively flat surfaceby obviatingv theA necessity 'for -,the manufacturerv to carry in stock great numbers of diierentfpole- 504 carrying'attachmentsf 'Iheconstruction of the chain-.andof'the attachments-therefor will bey disclosedhereinafter,l reerencesbeing had to the Yaccompanying drawing? of which: v 5 5d f' Fig, 1 is a-longitudinal vertical section ofa chainV individual pole sockets, which, in order to space', the poles uniformly on the chains, require the'f sprockets to accommodate the. diierently pitched" The objectof the present'invention is to provide i a single standardV form of .fixed pitch chain,

throughout the pole-carrying run of thechain;

madeand eqv'uipped'inv accordance with the principlesy of the'prefsent invention; Y

Fig. 2 isa-transversesectional elevation taken -Fig-. Blis'a longitudinal section of one of -the links 5 ofFig. 1, sho=wingthe attachment-receiving surface of the` link provided:y With an attachmenty thereonwhichiiiersl in the spacing of the pole sockets fromthe attachmentsV shown on the links 10 The chain shown in Fig, l-' is of a type adapted to operate solely in a horizontal plane. v The chain isl composed offa plurality of'links I, I which are pivotally connected'one to the other by pintles 2, 2. The axes-of the pintlesA 2, in this type of chain, 15 are vertically. disposed, each pintle passing if through a vertically spacedpair-of lugs 3', 3 formed on one endvof-one linkand-through a single-lug 4l formed on the opposite end offan interconnectedy link, the'lug lI- being disposed intermediate the 20v vertically spacedlugs 3, 3- of the iirst of the interi` connected links. A k In the 'presentinstanca each ofthe linksv I isv of a-'hollow construction and comprises a pair of'sub-` stantially parallel sidewalls 5 and 5w, transverse 25v n end f'walls; 6, and atop Wall 1, collectively providing afc'avity 8 for afch'ain-supporting Wheel 9- Which'isadapted to run ona suitable supporting surfacev I0." VThe supporting vvh'eelfQ in each in- ,l stance is 'rotatably mounted on an vaxle II Which 30 issupportedin-bearings I2 andl3 formedfon the lower portions of the inner and outer side Walls 5 and 5d' respectively. i `The bearing I3 von Athe outer side -Wall 5a is provided with an axial extension I4 throughiwhich and the axle IIeXtends a Cotter 35 pin or other device I 5 for securing the axle in xed position inthe link.' vThe top -Wall 'lof the link provides the above noted flat-"surface 20on each of the links I. The

surfaces 20,125 of theinterconnected links of the 40 I assembledlchainare disposed in a common substantially horizontal planegas illustrated in Fig. 1, and provide' a substantially -continuous surface for supporting the poles, A

Formed'na mannerto rest on the surface 2l) of 45 each link, and to be rigidly secured toV the link, is

a pole socket attachment 25. Each of said attachrnents 25 is composed of a strip 26 of suitable, and preferably a non-corrodible, metalwhich isY bentfor otherwise formedinto a series of undula-y 50, tionstoA providea plurality of individual pole, sockets' 2ll forreceiving the poles :r in denite pl'redeterminedV laterally spaced relation to each other.

Y In cases where ,the poles are adapted to support skeins of yarns, for example, it is desirable ering l29 thereof.'

that the. Dole sockets be as smooth as possible yin order to preventrnarring of the poles, at and ad- Y jacent their opposite ends where they rest on the links of the laterally spaced carrying chains composed of thelinks I, themetallic strips 26 are v preferably covered with a relatively soft `resilient material, such,.for example, asaV knitted or woven tube 29'slipped over and encasing the undulated4 strip 2 6.

Each socket attachment25 is'secured to a link-'m I in superposed relation to the flat platform surface of the link, in the present instance, by d means of screws 28, 28 which pass throughgthev strip 26 and through the resilient enveloping cov- The screwsrl are threaded intotapped openings 30 provided-in-'each link'I adjacent vthe opposite ends thereofrespectively.

As a comparative example of the spacing of the 'sockets `of the attachments .of-:the differentl series, Fig. 1 showsanattachment wherein'the sockets v2I are spaced apart ata dlstanceof 11/2" which provides for aspacing of ,the poles carin. anydesired multiplexof 1.1/2, for example,-spacing atv 1%-, 3, 41/2,f6'7, etc., each` attachment being provided=with four sockets. In the-,attachment shown in Fig .-3',} the.spacinguof Ythe sockets is'2". 1 Y apart, thereby providing for aspacing of the poles -f in any multiple of two.. Obviously, the spacing of the sockets ofjthe-attachmentsof other series..

interchangeable Withthe series shown in Fignl or thatshownj in Fig. 3, may be variedto what-v ever extent Ythat may` be desired or required to meeta prevailing condition or circumstance necessitati-ng a special spacing o fthe poles.

The point of the invention is that in all. in-

stancesfthe pitch of the links I, that is, the distancebetween the pintles Y2,-2, remains constant i whi'le'the pitch of the sockets of the different at- ,thereof-.- Y '45 tachrnents providing the desired spacing may vary to any desired extent; and each series of `attachments maybe readily attached to thestandardrlinks I Without requiringivany modification `Inorder-to prevent sidesof the conveyer the outer side of eachiof the carrying chains isprovide'd with a. vertical flange 24, which, in the present instance, andas shown in "Fig, .2, is disposed substantially-in of the outer wall 5c ofthe link I.

While the invention has been described in conl nection with faj chain operating in a horizontal plane,Y that is, wherein both thepole-carrying` run of `the' chain and the return run of the chainare disposed solely ina commonhorizontal plane, makingthe chain particularly adaptable for use pole-carrying'chain disclosed in the prior patent; to E. B. Ayres No. 1,584,593, dated May 11, 1926,`

in lthat form of apparatus disclosed in the copending application of Alpheus O. HurxthaLSerial No. 713,217, led YFebruary 2.7, 1934, -the in-1V vention isr ,equally Yadaptable tothat f-form of wherein both runs `*of the pole-carrying `chain opcrate in a common vertically disposed plane, andwherein the supporting wheelsfor the chain are rotatably mounted about the axes of the pintles by which the links of the, chain are operatively ,connected together, the axes Aof. the p intlesV in such` instance being disposed horizontally in place o fA vertically @am z,

I claim'.

.- flf A Arelatar.1o/ing; element having a. substan-vv i t1ally continuous attachment-supporting surface in a single plane provided at predetermined inaxiallshiffig of thepols vrelative lto the carrying chalnsat the opposite the -plane as disclosed inthe present applica` tervals with attachment-securing means, and interchangeable series of pole-spacing attachments having relatively diierent pole spacings and respectively provided with means adapted to cooperate with saidy securing means for ,rigidly mounting said attachments on said surface.

' 2. AV pole-carrying chain comprising a multiplicity of pivotally connected links collectively providing a substantially continuous attachmentsupporting surface in a single plane and equipped with means adapted to cooperate with said se- 'f atfpredetermined intervals with attachment-see `curing means, and. interchangeable series of Y polespacing?V attachments having relatively dfferent pole Yspacings and respectively provided curing means for rigidly mounting s aidspacing 1 attachments on said surface; Y 3A pole-carrying chain comprising a multiplicity of pivotallyY connected links `respectively provided with attachment-supporting surfaces,

attachment-securing' means on each link, and.'

interchangeable series lof f pole-spacingV attachments having. relatively Adifferent pole spacings respectively,v each attachment Vof each series thereof being provided vwithv means-"adapted-to cooperate with said.securing means fornrigidly mounting said spacing attachments on. said link'l Asurfaces'respectively f 4. A pole-carrying :chain comprising a multi-` plicity of pivotally Ycorinected links .e'achprovidediy with a substantially flat attachment-supporting" surface extending substantially from end to end thereof, ,intexchangeable.` pole-spacing lattach-V ments of relatively different polersp'acings `adapt-Y ed nto be respectively mounted onsaidflink surfaces andfto contact therewith at varying` points longitudinallythereof as determined'bythe pole` spacings ofA the. respective, attachments, and

means' `for` securing each attachment rigidly Vto `said surface.

5.. A polefcarrying chain comprising ra multi-1 plicity` of 'pivotallyl connected links eachA provided with a'substantially vflat attachment-supporting surface extending substantially from end tolend thereof,4 'inter-changeable" pole-spacingY attachments of yrelatively different pole s pacings adapted to be respectively rnonteid'onsaid link surfaces and to contact therewithat varying points Y v longitudinally `.thereof as determined by the pole spacings ofthe respective attachmentsl and` each consisting of an element'having a predetermined number offindividual pole sockets formed therein. f 6. A pole-carrying chain comprisinga multiplicity ofpivotallyconnected links each provided' with a substantially flat attachmentsupporting surface extending substantially from end toend v thereof, interchangeableV pole-'spacing attachments, of Yrelatively diierent polespacings adapteditoV be respectivelyY mounted on said link surfaces and to contact'therewith at varying points longitudinally thereof .as determined by the polei Y tachments.

d'7.Y A pole-carrying chain comprising afmultlplicity of pivotally'connected links eachprovided with a substantially fiat attachment-supporting surface extending substantially from endto end thereof,VV interchangeable pole-spacingy attachments ofprelativelydiferent po1e spacingsradapted to, be respectively mounted Von said link surfaces and to Contact therewith at varying points longitudinally thereof as determined by the pole spacings of the respective attachments, each consisting of an undulated strip providing a` pretermined number of individual pole sockets therein and corresponding in number to the pole spacings of the respective attachments,-and means for securing each attachment rigidly to said surface. v

8. A pole-carrying chain comprising a multiplicity of pivotally connected links each provided with a substantially flat Vattachment-supporting surface extending substantially from end to end thereof, interchangeable 'pole-spacing attachments 'of vrelatively different pole spacings adapted to be respectively mounted on said link surfaces and to contact therewith at varying points longitudinally thereof as determined by the pole spacings of the respective attachments,each consisting of an undulated strip providing a predetermined plural number of individual uniformly spaced pole sockets therein and corresponding in number to the pole spacings of the respective attachments, and means for securing each attachment rigidly to said surface.

9. A pole-carrying chain comprising a multiplicity of pivotally connected links each provided with a substantially flat attachment-supporting surface yextending substantially from end to end thereof, interchangeable pole-spacing attachments of relatively different pole' spacings adapted tobe respectively mounted on said link surfaces and to contact therewith at varying points longitudinally thereof as determined by the pole spacings of the respective attachments, each consisting of an undulated strip providing a predetermined plural number of individual uniformly spaced `pole sockets therein and corresponding in number to the pole spacings of the respective attachments, and means for securing each attachmentl rigidly to said surface consisting of a pair of screws respectively threaded into tapped openings formed in each link surface in a same predetermined uniformly spaced relation to each other on each link and passing thro-ugh acorre/spondingly spaced pair of openings formed in each of the interchangeable socket-formingstrips;

l0. A pole-carrying chain comprising a multiplicity of pivotally connected links each yc onsisting lof a body portion provided with a substantially flat attachment-supporting surface extending substantially from end to end thereof, pivot lugs .projecting in oppositedirections from the opposite ends of said body portion substantially parallel to said surface, pintles extending through said lugs perpendicular to said surface, interchangeable pole-spacing attachments of relatively different pole spacings adapted to be respectively mounted o-n said link surfaces and to contact therewith at varying points longitudinally thereof as determined by the pole spacings of the respective attachments, and means for securing each attachment rigidly to said surface.

plicity of pivotally connected links each consisting of a'hollow body portion provided with a suby stantially flat attachment-'supporting surface extending substantially from end to end thereof, pivot lugs projecting in opposite directions from the opposite ends of said body portion substantially f 11. A pole-carrying chain comprising a multiparallel to sai-d surface, pintles extending through and means for securing each attachment rigidly to lsaid surface. Y,

l2. A pole-carrying chain comprising a multiplicity of pivotally connected links each consist-- ing of a hollow body portion provided with a substantially flat attachment-supporting surface extending substantially from end to end thereof, pivot lugs projecting in opposite directions from the opposite ends of said body portion substantially parallel to sai-d surface, pintles extending through said lugs perpendicular to said surface, a supporting wheel rotatably mounted in said hollow.

body portion about an axis extending at right angles to saidpintles, interchangeable pole-spacing attachments of relatively different pole spacings adapted to be respectively mounted on said link surfaces and to contact therewith at varying points longitudinally thereof as determined by the pole spacings of the respective attachments, each consisting of an undulated strip providing a predetermined plural number of individualuniformly space-d pole sockets therein, means for securing each attachment rigidly to said surface, and a flange extending at right angles to said surface adjacentv one side of the socket strip to limit rmovement of the poles transversely of said strip.

13. A pole-carrying chain comprising amultirplicity of pivotally connected links eachprovided with a substantiallyiiat attachment-supporting surface extending substantially from end to endV iereof, interchangeable pole-spacing attach'- ments of relatively different pole spacings adapted to be respectively mounted-on said 'link surfaces and .to contact therewith at varying points longitudinally thereof as determined by the pole spacings ofthe respective attachments, each consisting of' an undulated strip providing a predetermined vplural number of vindividual uniformly spaced pole vsockets therein, means for securingv each attachment rigidly to said surface, anda flange extending at right angles to said surface adjacent' one side of the socket strip to limit movement of the poles transversely of said strip.

WARREN A. DIoKI'NsMoN. 

